Front Immunol. 2026 Jul 23;17:1879137. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1879137. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) - granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) - are rare small-vessel autoimmune diseases. Liver involvement in AAV is uncommon and generally manifests as biochemical hepatitis; true hepatic granulomatosis is exceedingly rare and diagnostically challenging.
METHODS: We conducted a systematic scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the Arksey & O'Malley framework, searching PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus without date restriction (through March 2026). A total of 7, 033 records were initially retrieved; after deduplication, title/abstract screening, and full-text review, five articles meeting strict inclusion criteria were included for qualitative synthesis.
RESULTS: Five published cases of hepatic granulomas in AAV patients with no confirmed confounding etiology were identified. All were GPA or EGPA; no case of pure MPA was documented. Three patients were female and two were male, with a mean age of 57.6 years. Liver histology revealed non-necrotizing epithelioid granulomas (n = 2), granulomatous inflammation with necrosis (n = 1), incomplete septal cirrhosis with vasculopathic changes (n = 1), and incidental calcified granulomas (n = 1). Immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids and/or cyclophosphamide achieved clinical and biochemical improvement in all treated patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic granulomatosis is a rare but genuine extra-respiratory manifestation of AAV, most frequently reported in GPA. It may antedate the canonical ENT-pulmonary-renal triad, presenting as incidental hepatomegaly or unexplained liver function test elevation. Systematic exclusion of competing etiologies (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, primary biliary cholangitis, drug-induced hepatitis) is mandatory before attributing granulomas to AAV. Liver biopsy remains pivotal in confirming the diagnosis. Immunosuppression is the therapeutic cornerstone, with generally favourable outcomes.
PMID:42564169 | PMC:PMC13442650 | DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2026.1879137